IBR on The Cruelest Sport

“The outcome was as expected: Tim Bradley won a unanimous decision over Ruslan Provodnikov last night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. But the expectation that Bradley, openly frustrated with his career, was being given a palliative in Provodnikov was quickly turned on its ear. Over the course of twelve harrowing rounds, Bradley was repeatedly pushed to the threshold of his resolve by the incorrigible Provodnikov. However much the boxing community may have considered Bradley an imposter on the throne, Provodnikov treated him like a king, and, against such distinguished opposition, looked to overthrow royalty.”

Read A Ruthless Scrutiny: Tim Bradley W12 Ruslan Provodnikov on The Cruelest Sport.

IBR on Esquina Boxeo

If you can read Spanish, I have an essay in the March issue of ESQUINA BOXEO that explores the presence of cruelty in boxing; specifically the artifices we employ to reconcile this cruelty with modern humanism, the underlying desire that necessities this reconciling, and whether these efforts are ultimately successful.

IBR on The Cruelest Sport

“Vastly superior minds have struggled to evaluate far more significant performances than the one that transpired last night at The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, where Tavoris Cloud was schooled by 48-year-old Bernard Hopkins over 12 dreary rounds. Kierkegaard for example, dedicated the opening chapters of Fear and Trembling to exploring Genesis 22:1-19, trying to understand the nature of faith and responsibility to God through the performance that, to him, produced humankind’s greatest hero. If we are looking for some perspective on last night’s performance then, it is certainly available to us (although perspective is largely ignored by those eager to construct a Khajuraho monument to, well, anything).”

Read “Another Khajuraho Moment: Bernard Hopkins W12 Tavoris Cloud” on The Cruelest Sport.